Creation of the International Mugham Center
in the City of Baku
in order to widely promote in the world the Azerbaijani mugham, proclaimed by
UNESCO as Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, is of special
importance among the projects accomplished towards the safeguarding of the
national moral values and promotion of the Azerbaijani culture.
Round Table
initiated by President of the Foundation Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva was held in 2005
with the participation of outstanding mugham masters and a decision was made to
establish the International Mugham Center
in the City of Baku.
On April 6, 2005, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on the creation of the
International Mugham
Center in Baku. Regular meetings and consultations with
masters of mugham led to the development of the project of the International Mugham Center.
On August 24,
2005, the cornerstone laying ceremony of the Center was held in the National Seaside Park
with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva
and UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura. On 27 December 2008, President
Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva inaugurated the International Mugham
Center.
The 7.500 sq.m
building reminds of the parts of tar, an ancient musical instrument of Azerbaijan. The
3-storey building includes 350-seat concert hall, club, classrooms, recording
studio, 80-seat restaurant “Ud”.
Equipments for
the building, constructed using the latest technologies, were brought from Italy, Austria,
France and Turkey. Over
2000 glasses of different sizes were used in construction. The building has state-of-the-art
ventilation and heat systems.
At the International Mugham Center
young performers learn the refinements of the art of mugham, an important
branch of the Azerbaijani music culture.
Concerts of eminent mugham masters, mugham evenings, international
conferences and festivals are organized in the Center.